Eleven members of a violent street gang known as "6th Ward D-Block" have been arrested and charged with racketeering related to their drug dealing in the 2600 block of Dumaine Street, New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas and Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro announced at a news conference.

Rusty Costanza, The Times-PicayuneDistrict Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, left, listens at a recent news conference as Ronal Serpas, New Orleans police superintendent, discusses the aggressive pursuit and prosecution of sex offenders -- particularly old cases brought back via a nationwide DNA database -- that he and the DA are pursuing.

The alleged gang members were involved in the sale of cocaine and marijuana, although they had also dealt heroin and ectasy in the past, Cannizzaro said. But instead of charging them with drug dealing, they have been indicted as a group under the state racketeering law, he said.

As in federal court, the use of the racketeering statute means the alleged gang members potentially face enhanced penalties if convicted, Cannizzaro said. Prosecutors will also be given unique opportunities to bring in evidence of other "bad acts" related to defendants' drug dealing.

Cannizzaro said some members of the gang have been previously implicated in robberies, shootings and other crimes.